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PREPARED BY 

Rev. JOHN TALBOT SMITH, LL.D. 



More things are wrought by prayer 
Than this world dreams of. Wherefore, let thy voice 
Rise like a fountain for me night and day. 
For what are men better than sheep or goats 
That nourish a blind life within the brain, 
If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer 
Both for themselves and those who call them friend? 
For so the whole round earth is every way 
Bound by gold chains about the feet of God. 

Tennyson: The Passing of Arthur. 

NEW YORK 

THE CATHOLIC ACTORS GUILD OF AMERICA 
1917 



This little book of prayer and guidance has been published by the 
Catholic Actors Guild of America. The Guild was founded in 1914 
by Rev. John Talbot Smith, under the patronage of His Eminence 
Cardinal Farley, for the purpose of making religion a more efficient 
factor in the actor's life; also to support and encourage the ideal in 
the dramatic art and in the current drama. The Guild has established 
an annual retreat for actors in New York, eight monthly meetings, 
an annual mass of requiem for the dead, and a bureau of advice and 
assistance. Every Catholic actor should become a member and help 
the good work along. Any Catholic of any walk in life may become 
a member. This little book of prayer has been issued in behalf of the 
CTuild, and you are asked to bring it to every actor's attention. 



iifttf &b&tat. 

Rev. ARTHUR J. SCANLAN, Censor. 

imprimatur. 

* JOHN CARDINAL FARLEY. 

* • 

FEB -9 19*8 



Copyright, Rev. John Talbot Smith, 191 7. 

©C:.A498851 



CONTENTS 



PAGE 

St. Genesius, Actor and Martyr 5 

Christ's Special Message to You 6 

Instruction on the Same 8 

Morning Prayer 9 

Evening Prayer 12 

Prayers at Mass 13 

Confession and Communion 20 

Your Inner Self Examined 21 

How to Make a Good Confession 24 

How to Make a Good Communion 27 

The Catholic Observance of Time 33 

Advent Prayers 34 

Christmas Prayers 36 

Lenten Prayers 39 

Holy Week 43 

Easter and the Paschal Time 45 

The Minor Seasons 47 

The Seven Fountains 50 

Duties of Your State 55 

The Guardian Angel 64 



3 



ST. GENESIUS, ACTOR AND MARTYR 

IT is on record that many members of the stage 
became converts to Christianity from a very 
early date. The stage in pagan days was a mere 
panderer to the corruption of the hour. Yet its rep- 
resentatives were not beyond the saving grace of 
Christ, who did not desert them in the modern fashion. 
Genesius was an actor in the days of the Emperor 
Diocletian of Rome, the famous soldier and statesman, 
at the beginning-of the fourth century. He was playing 
one night before Diocletian in a play which mimicked 
certain Christian ceremonies, very likely Baptism. 
By this date the Christians had become powerful and 
well known in the Empire, and their ceremonies had 
begun to attract attention and admiration. While 
the play was going on Genesius had a vision of some 
kind which made him at once a Christian, for he was 
baptized on the spot and made his confession of faith 
before the astonished ruler. By the Emperor's order 
he was at first scourged, then tortured in various ways, 
but refused to change his faith or his determination, 
saying: "There is no King but Christ, and though 
you were to slay me a thousand times, you cannot 
remove Him from my heart or from my lips." He 
was then beheaded. His feast day is August 25. 
He has been chosen by the British and American actors 
as the patron saint of their respective guilds. 

PRAYER TO ST. GENESIUS 
O Omnipotent God, grant, we beseech Thee, that 
through the intercession of Thy martyr Genesius, 
we may be freed from all distress and pain of body 
and purified from all uncleanness of mind. Through 
Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen. 

5 



CHRIST'S SPECIAL MESSAGE TO YOU 



HE longest life is but a drop in the ocean of Time. 



l In your youth fifty years ahead looks far enough 
away: in your age it will seem a small thing. Get 
the right view of life and time now, so as to avoid 
making a mess of your life and its opportunities. 
Read here what Christ said about life, and learn His 
divine words by heart for your own consolation. 



No man can serve two masters. For either he will 
hate the one and love the other: or he will sustain 
the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God 
and mammon. 

Therefore I say to you, be not solicitous for your 
life, what you shall eat, nor for your body, what you 
shall put on. Is not the life more than the meat, and 
the body more than the raiment? 

Behold the birds of the air, for they neither sow, 
nor do they reap, nor gather into barns: and your 
heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not you of much 
more value than they? 

And which of you by taking thought can add to his 
stature one cubit? 

And for raiment why are you solicitous? Consider 
the lilies of the field how they grow: they labour not, 
neither do they spin. 

But I say to you, that not even Solomon in all his 
glory was arrayed as one of these. 

And if the grass of the field, which is to-day, and 




THE WORDS OF CHRIST 



6 



Christ's Special Message to You 



7 



to-morrow is cast into the oven, God doth so clothe: 
how much more you, O ye of little faith? 

Be not solicitous therefore, saying, what shall we 
eat, or what shall we drink, or wherewith shall we be 
clothed? 

For after all these things do the heathens seek. 
For your Father knoweth you have need of all these 
things. 

Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and 
His justice, and all these things shall be added unto you. 

St. Matthew's Gospel, Chapter VI. 



INSTRUCTION 



THE point of this exquisite discourse of Our Lord 
to his disciples is in the last sentence : seek God 
first, let all other things come after. 

We are human beings, made for this world of time, 
and also for the world of eternity. Two demands are 
made upon us: one to fulfil our duties here, the other 
to prepare for the heavenly life. We must answer 
both. We belong to this world for a little time, 
and we must help it along. We belong to eternity 
for ever, and we must so live as to be worthy of its 
glory. The two duties do not conflict: each helps 
the other. But the kingdom of heaven takes pre- 
cedence over the kingdom of earth, and we must seek 
it first. Most men seek the world first. They give 
it first place in their thoughts, in their labors, in their 
pleasures; and in due time it expels all thought of the 
kingdom of God, so that they live as if time were 
eternity, and eternity time. 

When a man seeks the earthly kingdom first, and 
the heavenly' kingdom second or last, he introduces 
disorder into his soul, and this disorder shows itself 
in due time in his mind, in his heart, in his will. He 
thinks only of profit and pleasure, he feels only the 
selfish emotions, and he wills only what pleases him. 
His life resembles a railroad train which the loco- 
motive pushes ahead of it instead of taking the lead. 
There is some sort of progress of course, but the 
swing, force, beauty and swiftness of the express 
train are sacrificed to the absurdity. 

Therefore, arrange your life so that the kingdom of 
God will be first in it. 

8 



MORNING PRAYERS 

INSTRUCTION 

PRAYER is simply the expression to God of a 
man's thoughts concerning their mutual rela- 
tions. To many people prayer becomes a cold for- 
mality, which can well be dispensed with; to others 
it is a superstition, which they are afraid to drop 
from their evil lives, lest bad luck strike them; only 
to the few is it the expression of the child to the father 
in moments of intimacy. 

It takes a long while for the human being to under- 
stand that in the long run there are only two main 
factors in his life. They are God and himself. The 
hour of death reveals this startling fact. Friend and 
relative and physician withdraw before death, and 
man stands alone with God. It is at such times that 
the dullest man, the most sinful, the most expression- 
less, finds eloquent words of petition in his own behalf. 
No teaching is required. He can exhaust a language 
demanding help, relief, strength, courage, pardon, 
and at the least a merciful judgment. 

It is easy now to place yourself at the moment of 
death, and in part to realize the needs of that sad exit 
into eternity. Speak to God in prayer as you would 
then: speak to Him as child to parent: realize your 
helplessness at this moment, your need of guidance 
and protection, as you realize how much the children 
stand in need of parental guidance and protection. 
Then it will be easy and natural to pray often and 
well. 

Each morning kneel down and say thoughtfully the 
following prayers, which you should know by heart 



9 



IO 



Morning Prayers 



so that they may be said anywhere. If you cannot 
kneel, say them on the way, but with devotion. 

TO THE BLESSED TRINITY 

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of 

the Holy Ghost. Amen. 

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy 
name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth 
as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread: 
and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those 
who trespass against us; and lead us not into tempta- 
tion, but deliver us from evil. Amen. 

TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN 

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, 
blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit 
of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, 
pray for us sinners, now at and the hour of our death. 
Amen. 

THE CREED 

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of 
heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son 
our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, 
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, 
was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended 
into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; 
He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right 
hand of God the Father Almighty, whence He shall 
come to judge the living and the dead. I believe 
in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the 
communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resur- 
rection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. 

These three prayers express the substance of all 
prayer, and bring a soul into direct relation with the 
Blessed Trinity, the Blessed Mother, and the Church. 



Morning Prayers n 



These little prayers called the acts should also be mem- 
orized: 

Act of Faith. O my God, I most firmly believe 
in Thee, and in all the truths which Thou hast re- 
vealed to Thy holy Catholic Church, because Thou 
art truth itself, who can neither deceive nor be de- 
ceived. 

Act of Hope. O my God, I most firmly hope in 
Thee, that Thou will grant me the grace to observe 
Thy commandments in this life, and to reward me 
in the next life with the love and the possession of 
Thee, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord 
and Redeemer. 

Act of Love. O my God, I love Thee above all 
things, with my whole heart and soul, because Thou 
art all-good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor 
as myself for the love of Thee. I forgive all who have 
injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured. 

Act of Contrition. O my God, I am heartily 
sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my 
sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains 
of hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, so 
good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, 
with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to 
do penance, and to amend my life. Amen. 

Conclusion. May God support us all the day 
long, till the shades lengthen, and the evening comes, 
and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life 
is over, and our work is done! Then in His mercy 
may He give us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and 
peace at the last. — Cardinal Newman* 



EVENING PRAYERS 



BEFORE retiring for the night kneel down in quiet, 
repeat the prayers given above, and then say 
this special prayer: 

O my God, sovereign Judge of men, who desirest 
not the death of a sinner, but that he should be con- 
verted and saved, enlighten my mind, that I may 
know the sins which I have this day committed in 
thought, word or deed, and give me the grace of true 
contrition. 

Examine then your behavior of the day and conclude 
with the act of contrition and the following prayers: 

O my God, visit this habitation, I beseech Thee, 
and drive far from it all the snares of the enemy: let 
Thy holy Angels dwell therein to keep us in peace: 
and may Thy blessing be upon us always. 

Hear my prayers on behalf of our Holy Father 
the Pope, our bishops and clergy, and for all in au- 
thority over us : bless and convert poor sinners, heretics 
and all unbelievers: pour Thy blessings upon all my 
relatives, friends and acquaintances: help the poor 
and the sick, and those who are in their last agony: 
have compassion on the souls in purgatory, and grant 
them eternal light, rest and happiness: bless the 
repose I am about to take, that with renewed strength 
I may be the better enabled to serve Thee. Amen. 

Blessed Mother of God, pray for me, that I may ba 
preserved this night from all evil of body and soul. 
Blessed St. Joseph, dear Guardian Angel, saints and 
angels of Paradise, watch over me this night and 
forever, that the grace of God may always keep me 
worthy of your protection and your regard. Amen. 



12 



\ 




PRAYERS AT MASS 

INSTRUCTION 



THE last supper which Our Lord ate with His 
Apostles was the first Mass. At that parting 
meal He founded the Great Institution of the Blessed 
Eucharist, by changing the bread and wine into His 
Body and Blood and by conferring upon His priest- 
hood the power to repeat the wonder in the Mass. 

Hence the Mass is the central feature of the Catholic 
Church, its great act of devotion, its supreme trib- 
ute to God, in the changing of the bread and wine into 
Christ Himself, and the offering of Him to His Eternal 
Father in expiation of the sins of the world. From 
the Mass the life of the Church radiates as rays from 
the sun: all its beauties of temple, ritual, vestment 
and music get their inspiration there. With what 
joy, with what a sense of dignity, every Catholic 
should attend that solemn ceremony! 

Choose your own way of hearing Mass, but one 
good method is to follow the priest closely, joining 
with him in prayer and ceremony exactly as they are 
prescribed. Another is to note the various parts of 
the Mass devoutly, unite your intention with that 
of the priest, and pray as you feel. A third is to 
meditate or to pray during the holy time on any part 
of Our Lord's life and Passion. 

The following prayers will help you to join worthily 
in the rite, and to secure your proper share in its 
merits before God. 

I. From the entrance of the priest to the Offertory 
say with attention these prayers and chants: 

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of 
the Holy Ghost. Amen. 



13 



14 



Prayers at Mass 



y 



THE CONFITEOR 

I confess to the Almighty God, to the Blessed Mary 
ever Virgin, to the Blessed Michael Archangel, to 
the Blessed John the Baptist, to the Holy Apostles, 
Peter and Paul, and to all the saints, that I have 
sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed, 

Through my fault, through my fault, through my 
most grievous fault. 

And therefore I beseech the Blessed Mary ever 
Virgin, the Blessed Michael Archangel, the Blessed 
John the Baptist, the Holy Apostles, Peter and Paul, 
and all the saints, to pray to the Lord our God for me. 

May the Almighty and merciful Lord grant us par- 
don, absolution and remission of all our sins. Amen. 

Take away from us our iniquities, we beseech Thee, 
O Lord, that we may be worthy to enter with pure 
minds into the Holy of Holies, through Christ Our 
Lord. Amen. 

THE GLORIA 

Glory to God on high, and on earth peace to men 
of good will. 

We praise Thee: we bless Thee: we worship Thee: 
we glorify Thee. 

We give Thee thanks for thy great glory, O Lord 
God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. 

O Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-begotten Son: 0 
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, Thou 
Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy 
on us: Thou Who takest away the sins of the world, 
receive our prayer: Thou Who sittest at the right 
hand of the Father, have mercy on us. 

For Thou only art holy: Thou only art Lord. 
Thou only, O Jesus Christ, with the Holy Ghost, 
art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen. 

Defend us, O Lord, we beseech Thee, from all 
dangers both of soul and body; and by the interces- 



Prayers at Mass 



sion of the glorious and blessed Mary ever Virgin, 
Mother of God, of blessed Joseph, of Thy Holy Apostles, 
Peter and Paul, and of all Thy saints, grant us, in 
Thy meicy , health and peace ; that all adversities and 
errors being done away, Thy Church may serve Thee 
with a pure and undisturbed devotion. Amen. 

THE CREED, CALLED NICENE 

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker 
of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and 
invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only- 
begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all 
ages. God of God: Light of Light; very God of 
very God; begotten, not made; being of one sub- 
stance with the Father, by Whom all things were 
made. Who for us men, and for our salvation, came 
down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy 
Ghost of the Virgin Mary: and was made man. 
He was crucified also for us, suffered under Pontius 
Pilate, and was buried. The third day He rose again 
according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven 
and sitteth at the right hand of the Father; and He 
shall com©- again with glory to judge both the living 
and the dead; of whose kingdom there shall be no 
end. And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and 
Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father and 
the Son; Who together with the Father and the Son 
is worshipped and glorified; Who spoke by the Proph- 
ets. And One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. 
I confess one Baptism for the remission of sins. And 
I look for the Resurrection of the dead, and the life 
of the world to come. Amen. 

The Creed is a brief statement of the Church's teaching. 

2. While the priest prepares the bread and wine for 
the great A ct of Consecration, say the following prayers: 

O my God, accept from the priest the stainless 
host and the mystic wine, which he offers unto Thee, 



i6 



Prayers at Mass 



/ 



the true and living God, for all here present, for our 
manifold offences, negligences and sins; and for all 
faithful Christians, both living and dead, that this 
offering may be profitable for our salvation. 

May the mystic signification of this cammingling 
of water and wine remind us of the compassionate act 
of Thy Son Our Lord, Who is His Incarnation deigned 
to mingle our weak human nature with the Divine, 
and so restored us to the dignity lavished upon us in 
the creation. 

In a humble spirit and contrite heart may we be re- 
ceived by Thee, O Lord, and let this Sacrifice be so 
made in Thy sight this day that it may please Thee, 
0 Lord God. 

Receive, 0 Holy Trinity, this Oblation offered unto 
Thee in memory of the Passion, Resurrection, and 
Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and in honor of 
blessed Mary ever Virgin, of blessed John the Baptist, 
of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, of these and of 
all thy Saints: that it may be to their honor and to 
our salvation: and may they vouchsafe to intercede 
for us in heaven, whose memory we celebrate on 
earth. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen. 

3. From the first bell until the Communion read the 
brief description of the Last Supper below: remain in 
silence during the time of Consecration when the bread 
and wine are changed into the Body and Blood of Christ, 

THE LAST SUPPER 

a. From St. Luke, XXII, 14-20. 

And when the hour was come, he sat down and the 
twelve apostles with him. 

And he said to them: with desire I have desired to 
eat this pasch with you before I suffer. 

For I say to you, that from this time I will not eat 
it, till it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 

And having taken the chalice he gave thanks, and 
said: Take, and divide it among you. 



Prayers at Mass 



i7 



For I say to you, that I will not drink of the fruit 
of the vine, till the kingdom of God come. 

And taking bread he gave thanks, and brake, and 
gave to them, saying: This is my body which is given 
for you. Do this for a commemoration of me. 

In like manner the chalice also, after he had supped, 
saying: This is the chalice, the new testament in 
my blood, which shall be shed for you. 

b. Of the last supper, St. Paul writes to the Corin- 
thians: 

For I have received of the Lord that which also 
I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus, the same 
night in which he was betrayed, took bread, 

And giving thanks, broke, and said: Take ye and 
eat: this is my body which shall be delivered for 
you : this do for the commemoration of me. 

In like manner the chalice, after he had supped, 
saying: This chalice is the new testament in my 
blood: this do ye, as often as you shall drink for the 
commemoration of me. 

For as often as you shall eat this bread, and drink 
the chalice, you shall show the death of the Lord, 
until he come. 

Therefore whosoever shall eat this bread, or drink 
the chalice of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of 
the body and blood of the Lord. 

But let a man prove himself: and so let him eat 
of that bread, and drink of the chalice. 

For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth 
and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the 
body of the Lord. 

c. When the bell rings for the Consecration f adore 
Jesus in silence and awe. 

ST. CLEMENT'S PRAYER 
0 my God, I believe in Thee: do Thou strengthen 
my faith. All my hopes are in Thee: do Thou secure 
them. I love Thee: teach me to love Thee daily 



i8 



Prayers at Mass 



more and more. I am sorry that I have offended 
Thee: do Thou increase my sorrow. I adore Thee 
as my first beginning; I aspire after Thee as my 
last end. I give Thee thanks as my constant bene- 
factor ; I call upon Thee as my sovereign protector. 

Vouchsafe, O my God, to conduct me by Thy wis- 
dom, to restrain me by Thy justice, to comfort me 
by Thy mercy, to defend me by Thy power. To Thee 
I desire to consecrate all my thoughts, words, actions, 
and sufferings; that henceforward I may think of 
Thee, speak of Thee, refer all my actions to Thy 
greater glory, and suffer willingly whatever Thou 
shalt appoint. 

Lord, I desire that in all things Thy will may be 
done, because it is Thy will, and in the manner that 
Thou wiliest. I beg of Thee to enlighten my under- 
standing, to inflame my will, to purify my body, 
and to sanctify my soul. Give me strength to ex- 
piate my offences, to overcome my temptations, to 
subdue my passions, and to acquire the virtues proper 
for my state. Fill my heart with tender affection for 
Thy goodness, hatred of my faults, love of my neigh- 
bor, and contempt of the world. 

Let me always remember to be submissive to my 
superiors, courteous to my inferiors, faithful to my 
friends, and charitable to my enemies. Assist me 
to overcome sensuality by mortification, avarice by 
almsdeeds, anger by meekness, and tepidity by de- 
votion. 0 my God, make me prudent in my under- 
takings, courageous in danger, patient in affliction, 
and humble in prosperity. Grant that I may ever be 
attentive at my prayers, temperate at my meals, 
diligent in my employments, and constant in my 
resolutions. 

Let my conscience be ever upright and pure, my 
exterior modest, my conversation edifying, and my 
deportment regular. Assist me that I may con- 
tinually labor to overcome nature, to correspond with 



Prayers at Mass 



19 



Tky grace, to keep Thy commandments, and to 
work out my salvation. Discover to me the nothing- 
ness of this world, the greatness of heaven, the short- 
ness of time, and the length of eternity. 

Grant that I may prepare for death; that I may 
fear Thy judgments, escape hell, and in the end ob- 
tain heaven : through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen. 

4. Until the end of the Mass say the following prayers: 

Almighty and Everlasting God, I ask Thee humbly 
to look down upon us from Thy high and holy place, 
and mercifully to hear and accept the prayers of 
the Church. Be pleased in Thy infinite mercy to 
grant us pardon of all our sins, soundness of mind, 
health of body, and all the necessaries of life; grant 
us also peace in our days, freedom from tempests, 
and fruitful seasons. Grant also to our prayers the 
unity of the Catholic Faith, the extirpation of heresies, 
the destruction of wicked counsels, the increase of 
true religion, fervor of love and piety, sincere de- 
votion, patience and long-suffering in affliction, and 
joy in hope. Finally, grant us all things needful for 
the welfare of our souls and bodies, and above all 
whatever may promote the increase of Thy glory. 
Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen. 

Blessed be God. Blessed be His holy name. Blessed 
be Jesus Christ, true God and true man. Blessed be 
the name of Jesus. Blessed be Jesus in the most 
holy Sacrament of the altar. Blessed be the great 
Mother of God, Mary most holy. Blessed be her 
holy and immaculate Conception. Blessed be the 
name of Mary, Virgin and Mother. Blessed be 
God in His Angels and in His Saints. 



CONFESSION AND COMMUNION 



THE two most beautiful and helpful practices of 
the Catholic life are the regular reception of 
the great Sacraments, Penance and the Eucharist, 
commonly described as confession and communion. 
As we plunge the body into a cool, cleansing, refreshing 
bath to remove the stains of toil and use and to 
strengthen it for new toil, so the wise Catholic plunges 
his soul into the bath of Penance, to remove the stains 
of sin and worldliness, and to strengthen it anew 
for its labor. As we eat with joy our daily food 
to keep our forces in working order, so we sit down to 
the table of Holy Communion to feed the soul upon 
its only food, the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity 
of Jesus Christ. 

Water cleanses the body and food strengthens it: 
confession wipes out all sin and communion refreshes 
and invigorates the soul. How is it that so many 
Catholics, who never forget their daily bath and their 
hearty meals, can so easily forget the Sacraments? 
Why should they be so keen about bodily cleanliness 
and health, and so willing to suffer unclean and starved 
souls? What dulness of mind prompts them so often 
to jest about the dirt and starvation of their souls, 
when not for a moment would they tolerate jesting 
about dirty and starved bodies? For this reason: 
society would expel them the moment uncleanliness 
became their habit. Only God sees their dirty and 
starved soub, and He is patient. 

Hasten then to confession and communion, and 
from this time forward bathe and refresh your soul 
in the Sacrament of Penance, feed and beautify it 
in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. 



20 



YOUR INNER SELF EXAMINED 



THE first thing to do is to look into your conduct 
from the date of your last confession. You 
may follow the path of the Commandments to help 
you recall your sins, your omissions, and your negli- 
gences. 

First Commandment. Have you neglected pray- 
ing — believed in dreams — consulted fortune-tellers — 
doubted your faith — read books against it — denied 
your own religion — joined false worship like Christian 
Science — despaired of God's mercy — criticized His 
Providence — rebelled against Him — boasted of your 
sins? 

Second Commandment. Have you cursed, sworn, 
blasphemed, using the Divine Names — taken unlawful 
oaths — broken lawful vows — behaved badly in holy 
places? 

Third Commandment. Have you neglected Mass 
on Sundays and Holydays of obligation — worked 
on those days without necessity — or forced others to 
do the same? 

Fourth Commandment. Have you disobeyed, neg- 
lected, or offended your parents — have you neglected 
your children — or ill-treated them, or paid no attention 
to their religious training — or sent them to Protestant 
or unreligious schools — as a wife have you been affec- 
tionate and dutiful and reasonable towards your hus- 
band — as a husband have you been affectionate and 
reasonable towards your wife — as an employer have 
you done your full duty by your servants and workers 
— as an employe have you been faithful and obedient 
and industrious — in general, have you been respectful 




21 



22 Your Inner Self Examined 



and obedient to your superiors in State and Church — 
or hateful and rebellious? 

Fifth Commandment. Sins against this command- 
ment are the taking of human life — quarrels and fights 
and blows — exposing your own life or the lives of 
others unnecessarily — using drugs and other things 
hurtful to life — desire of revenge — tyrannical and cruel 
behaviour toward others — attacking the life of the 
unborn? 

Sixth and Tenth Commandments. Sins of the 
flesh are forbidden by these two precepts, the Sixth 
forbidding the action, and the Ninth forbidding the 
imagination, thought and desire. It is sufficient 
here to remind the reader that every carnal deliberate 
act, contrary to the virtue of Purity, whether it be in 
thought, desire, look, gesture, word, or deed, is a Mor- 
tal Sin, and must be mentioned in confession. The 
world takes this sin very lightly, but God does not. 

Seventh and Ninth Commandments. Have you 
stolen things — held stolen goods — damaged the prop- 
erty or interests of another — concealed fraud, theft, 
or damage — delayed paying lawful debts? 

Eighth Commandment. Have you slandered others 
— lied — spread malicious reports — published discred- 
itable secrets — refused or delayed to restore a reputa- 
tion which you had injured or destroyed? 

PRECEPTS OF THE CHURCH 

1. Have you neglected to hear Mass on Sundays 
and Holydays of obligation, and avoided servile work 
on those days? 

2. Have you kept the fasts and abstinences of the 
Church as prescribed in your locality? 

3. Have you been at Confession and Communion 
during the Easter period? 

4. Have you contributed your share to the support 
of pastor and Church? 

5. Have you entered into marriage with a rela- 



Your Inner Self Examined 23 



tive, or before any official but a priest, or failed to 
get the proper dispensations? 

Having made this examination as carefully as you 
are able, and fixed upon the number of your sins, make 
the resolution to lead a better life from this time on, 
ask of God the grace to do so, ask of Him in particular 
a great love and appreciation of the two Sacraments 
of Penance and Eucharist, the bath of the soul and 
the food of the sold, and then go to confession. Read 
carefully the following directions with regard to the 
confessor. 



THE ACT OF CONFESSION 



CATHOLICvS who have neglected confession often 
make much ado about this healthful and neces- 
sary duty. They are nervous, afraid of this and 
that, put off the evil moment as long as possible, and 
finally make the plunge like a criminal going to exe- 
cution. As the whole process consists simply in 
entering a confessional, describing one's sins in a 
three-minute talk, receiving an earnest admonition, 
a fitting penance, and a hearty encouragement from 
the priest, and leaving the church cheerful, relieved, 
and happy, there seems to be no good reason for 
making the confession so painful. 

The priest rejoices at the return of a sinner; the 
recital of one's sins does not disturb him, for he knows 
the world; if the sinner must feel shame, it should 
be before God and the angels, not before men. There- 
fore, having made up your mind to go to confession 
and renew your religious life, simply do what is to 
be done quickly and thoroughly, with a thankful and 
glad heart that God thus calls you to His service 
again. Make your confession in this form: 

THE FORM OF CONFESSION 

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of 
the Holy Ghost. Amen. 

Father, bless me, for I have sinned. 

It is so many weeks, or months, or years since my 
last confession: I performed my penance and went 
to Holy Communion: since that time I have sinned — 

Then narrate your sins according to the order in 
the examination of conscience. 



24 



The Act of Confession 25 



Make an entire confession, keeping back nothing. 

Make a pure confession, disguising nothing, dimin- 
ishing nothing. 

Make a humble confession, as if you were preparing 
for judgment. 

Make as brief a confession as possible. 

At the close say: 

For these and all my other sins which I cannot now 
remember, I am heartily sorry, and humbly ask 
pardon of God, and penance and absolution of you, 
Father. 

You will then receive instruction, advice, admonition 
and a penance from the priest, who will give you 
absolution, while you recite this 

ACT OF CONTRITION 

O my God, I am heartily sorry for ever having 
offended Thee. I detest all my sins, because I dread 
the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of 
all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all- 
good and deserving of my love. I firmly resolve, 
with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to 
do penance, and to amend my life. 

Having left the confessional, kneel before the Blessed 
Sacrament and recite the following prayer: 

A PRAYER AFTER CONFESSION 

O merciful God, who according to the multitude 
of Thy mercies dost so put away the sins of those 
who truly repent that Thou rememberest them no 
more: look graciously upon me, an unworthy ser- 
vant, and accept my confession for Thy mercy's 
sake: receive my humble thanks, O loving Father, 
that in Thy great goodness Thou hast given me 
pardon for all my sins. May Thy love and pity 
supply whatsoever has been wanting in the sufficiency 
of my contrition, and in the fulness of my confession. 



26 



The Act of Confession 



Grant me the help of Thy grace, that I may diligently 
amend my life and persevere in Thy service unto 
the end. Bless this priest, Thy servant, who has 
just now ministered to me in Thy name, Help me 
to remember his good counsel and advice, and to 
perform duly what he has rightly laid upon me. 
Grant him the abundance of Thy grace and favor, 
that his own soul may be refreshed and strengthened 
for Thy perfect service, and that he may come at 
last to the joy of Thy heavenly kingdom. Through 
Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen. 



HOLY COMMUNION 



INSTRUCTION 

IN this beautiful ceremony each servant of Jesus 
Christ receives the Blessed Eucharist, which 
under the form of bread and wine contains the true 
Body and Blood, the Soul and the Divinity of Jesus 
Christ. The change of the bread and wine into the 
Body and Blood of Christ is made by the priest during 
the Mass, at the Consecration, when taking the bread 
and then the chalice, he utters the words of Christ 
at the last supper: This is my Body: This is My 
blood: as explained above in the Scriptural account 
of the last supper. 

Christ Himself laid down the law with regard to 
Holy Communion. Here are His precise words from 
the Sixth Chapter of St. John: 

Unless ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink 
His blood, ye shall not have life in ye. He who eateth 
my flesh and drinketh my blood hath everlasting life: 
and I will raise him up on the last day. 

The Church has made it a condition of union with 
her that a Catholic shall confess his sins and receive 
Holy Communion at least once a year in the period 
called the Paschal Season. But very poor would 
be the faith which recognized Our Lord in the Eu- 
charist and then waited a year to accord Him the 
hospitality of the soul. The custom of Catholics has 
been to communicate frequently; in our time Pope 
Pius X urged daily communion upon all the faithful, 
even the children. 

Whatever practice you adopt, daily, weekly or 
monthly, communion, make it an intimate and affec- 
tionate offering of yourself to your master and leader, 



27 



28 



Holy Communion 



Whom one day you hope to meet in everlasting love 
in the courts of heaven. If it seems beyond belief 
that God can bestow Himself on human creatures, 
so poor and "mean and weak, remember that love 
finds nothing impossible, or strange, or difficult to 
its action. Jesus loves us, desires us, and will lift 
us up to the glory of intimacy with Him. Such an 
uplift makes us worthy of the love and admiration of 
all men. 

A PRAYER BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION 

O my dear Lord and Master Jesus, a poor sinner 
like me presumes nothing on his own deserts, trusts 
only to Thy mercy and goodness, and with joy and 
fear comes to Thy holy table. I am stained by many 
sins, wounded by bad habits; I hasten to thee for 
cleansing and for healing. I could not stand before 
Thee as a judge, but I can appeal to Thee as my 
Saviour. To Thee I show my wounds and lay bare 
my shame. Hear me, whose trust is in Thee; have 
mercy on me, so full of sin and misery. Be mindful 
of Thy creature, whom Thou hast redeemed with 
Thy blood. I repent that I have sinned, and I wish 
to make amends. Therefore take from me my sins 
and iniquities, that being cleansed in body and soul, 
I may worthily receive Thee in the Holy Communion. 
Grant that this holy feeding upon Thy Body and Blood 
may be for the remission of my sins, the banishment 
of evil thoughts and desires, the renewal of all virtue 
in me, and the sure protection of soul and body against 
the snares of the enemy. 

TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN 

Dear mother of gentleness and mercy, I place my- 
self at this moment under thy protection with humility 
and love. I ask that in thy loving-kindness thou 
wilt graciously be near me, and near all who in the 



Holy Communion 



29 



world to-day are to receive the Body and Blood of 
Thy Son, even as thou wert near Him when He hung 
bleeding on the cross, that, aided by thy gracious 
help, we may worthily offer up a pure acceptable 
sacrifice in the sight of the Holy and Undivided 
Trinity. Amen. 

TO ST. JOSEPH 

Happy and blessed art thou, St. Joseph, to whom 
it was given, not only to see and to hear that God 
Whom many kings desired to see and saw not, to hear 
and heard not; but also to bear Him in thy arms, to 
embrace Him, to clothe Him, and to guard and defend 
Him. 

Pray for us, 0 Blessed Joseph, 

That we may be worthy of the promises of Christ. 

PRAYER 

0 God, who hast given unto us a royal priesthood, 
we beseech Thee to grant that, as Blessed Joseph 
was found worthy to handle with his hands, and 
bear within his arms, Thy Only-begotten Son, born 
of the Virgin Mary, so may we be made fit, by clean- 
ness of heart and innocency of works, to attend upon 
Thy holy altars; that we may worthily receive the 
Most Sacred Body and Blood of Thy Son in this 
present world, and deserve to attain an everlasting 
reward in the world to come. Through the same 
Christ, Our Lord. Amen. 

Add any other prayers that please you. During the 
Mass a very good practice is to recall the things for 
which you have good reason to be thankful in your life 
and the things for which in different measure you are 
bound to pray. Rouse up your gratitude and indulge 
your confidence in God. The more you ask the more 
you will receive. 



3° 



Holy Communion 



THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR 

Your happy home in infancy, childhood and youth, 
and all the happiness that has been yours on the 
road of life. 

Your material success, your health, your friends, 
acquaintances, and work. 

Your sorrows and troubles even, which have waked 
you to the facts of life, made you understand that life 
is a battle, and that only the fool regards it as a 
holiday. 

Your present health, strength, ability to earn a 
livixig, and to serve God. 

THINGS TO PRAY FOR 

The great Church, always working in your interest, 
its Pope, bishops, priests, missions, institutions. 

Your great country, its President, Cabinet, Congress, 
officials, its mission in history, its present activities, 
that no harm may affect its noble work. 

Your kin, friends, acquaintances, that success, 
courage, faith, and virtue may mark their lives, and 
bless their exit into eternity. 

Your profession, so beautiful in itself, so attractive, 
so ennobling, and so debased by mean conditions as 
to be an object of suspicion to half of mankind. 

Yourself, seeking happiness and not finding it 
plentiful, perhaps burdened by misery at times, or 
poor, or unsuccessful, or too successful, beset by temp- 
tation and yielding to sin. 

After receiving Communion remain in silence a little 
while, then review as above your petitions^ and close 
all with this 



Holy Communion 



3i 



PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION FROM ST. 
ALPHONSUS 

O Lord Jesus, who through Thy love for all men 
dost remain with them day and night in this Sacrament, 
expecting, inviting, and receiving all who come to 
visit Thee: I believe that Thou art present in the 
Sacrament of the altar. I adore Thee, and I thank 
Thee for all the graces which Thou hast bestowed 
upon me, particularly for having given me Thyself 
in this Sacrament, for having given me for my advo- 
cate Thy most holy Mother, Mary, and for having 
called me to visit Thee in this church. I pay my 
homage this day to Thy most loving heart, in thanks- 
giving for this great gift itself; and in reparation for 
the injuries which Thou hast received from enemies in 
this Sacrament. My Jesus, I love Thee with my whole 
heart. I am sorry for having so often offended Thee. 
I purpose, with the help of Thy grace, never more 
to offend Thee. At this moment, poor as I am, I 
consecrate my whole being to Thee. I give Thee 
my entire will, all my affections and desires, all that 
I have. I commend to Thee the souls in purgatory, 
and I also commend to Thee all poor sinners. Dearest 
Saviour, at the end of all I unite all my affections 
with the affections of Thy most loving Heart; and 
thus united I offer them to Thy Eternal Father, 
and I entreat Him, in Thy name and for Thy sake, 
to accept and answer them, Amen, 



TEE CATHOLIC OBSERVANCE OF TIME 

IN general men waste more time than they use. 
It is every man's possession, like the air and 
the sun, and men fail to notice its value until age 
warns them that time will soon end for them. Youth 
is prodigal of time, because age seems distant. Men 
seem to be able to concentrate on nothing but their 
daily work. In consequence they do not read much, 
and their minds remain uncultured and ill-informed. 

The work-world makes a close study of time and 
the capacities of work-people, in order to get out of 
a man the last ounce of effort and twelve hours of 
his time. This is a study and a struggle for profit. 
With this sharp struggle before your eyes, with your 
own waste of time contrasted with Capital's fight 
to save time, it will interest you to study how the 
great Church uses time, and to learn her method of 
reminding men that time is important, valuable and 
short, and must be used wisely and constantly. 

Her principle in this matter was well expressed 
by some forgotten sage: 

Time is the coin with which man buys Eternity 

It is a bright, brief way of saying that as you live 
here so shall you live hereafter. Acting upon this 
principle the Church, herself immortal and inde- 
pendent of time, sanctifies the passing year by the 
wonderful pageant of her ritual, her solemn feasts 
and her more solemn seasons. The devout Catholic 
has only to follow quietly in her pathway, and the 
four seasons, the passing hours, will remind him in 



32 



The Catholic Observance of Time 



33 



a thousand beautiful ways of the speed and value 
and beauty of Time, and its relation to endless Eter- 
nity. The profit-seeking world is forced to look 
up from its gold and pleasure and to gaze upon the 
annual pageant of the Church, which silently protests 
against its greed and its crimes. 



THE ADVENT SEASON 



r r^HE Church begins her year on the first Sunday 
X in Advent, which usually occurs around the 
end of November. Advent means in Latin coming, 
and the season of Advent is one of preparation for 
the coming of Our Lord at Christmas. There are 
four Sundays in Advent, and the Gospels read in 
the Masses of those Sundays portray for us the 
noble and pathetic figure of St. John the Baptist, 
leaving his life in the desert to announce to the Jews 
the coming of the Messiah, their expected prophet, 
whose mission was to make them the leaders of the 
world. 

We see his strange figure, hear his penetrating voice, 
follow with awe the incidents of his career, watch 
the crowds of admirers, enemies, and critics that 
gathered about him, for the three years which ended 
in his shameful death at the hands of Herodias, Salome 
and Herod. The Church reminds us that even as 
Christ came in that day to all mankind, so He shall 
come again at the last day to judge the world, to 
close the history of the human race, and to assign 
to each man his fixed place in eternity. 

As the representative of Christ to the circle in which 
you move, it is your business to follow in spirit the 
Advent season, and, where it may properly be done, 
to acquaint your neighbors with its beauty. Fast 
on the Fridays of Advent, and at the least repeat 
daily these tender sighs of the Church toward her 
Lord. 



34 



The Advent Season 35 

ADVENT CHANTS 

O Wisdom, that comest out of the mouth of the 
Most High, that reachest from one end to another, 
and dost mightily and sweetly order all things: come 
to teach us by the way of prudence ! 

O Adonai, and Ruler of the house of Israel, who 
didst appear to Moses in the burning bush, and gavest 
him the law in Sinai: come to redeem us with an 
outstretched arm! 

O Root of Jesse, which standest for an ensign of 
the people, at whom the kings shall shut their mouths, 
whom the Gentiles shall seek: come to deliver us, 
make no tarrying. 

O Key of David, and Sceptre of the house of Israel, 
that openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and 
no man openeth: come to bring out the prisoner from 
the prison, and them that sit in darkness and in the 
shadow of death ! 

O Dayspring, Brightness of the everlasting light, 
Sun of Justice, come to give light to them that sit in 
darkness and in the shadow of death. 

O King of the Gentiles, yea, and desire thereof: 
O Corner-stone, that makest of two one: come to 
save man, whom Thou hast made of the dust of . the 
earth ! 

O Emmanuel, our King and our Law-giver, Longing 
of the Gentiles: yea, and Salvation thereof: come 
to save us, 0 Lord our God! 



THE CHRISTMAS TIME 



AS John the Baptist, the hermit from the desert, 
clad in skins and feeding upon husks, threatening 
the world for its sins, and rebuking it for the pride 
which ends in the grave, is the kingly figure of the Ad- 
vent period; with the sinister background of the 
lecherous Herod, the murderous Herodias, the volup- 
tuous siren Salome, and the tricky Pharisees: so the 
infant Jesus in His cradle, meek and poor and obscure 
and sweet, is the central figure in the Christmas 
time. In the background are Mary and Joseph, the 
spotless ones of earth; the humble shepherds, the 
mysterious Magi from the Orient, and the village of 
Bethlehem; with the celestial host from the starry 
heavens announcing the advent of the great King. 

This holy time extends from the vigil of the Feast, 
December 24, to the seventh day after the Epiphany, 
January 13. In the old English style the Epiphany 
was called Twelfth Night and Little Christmas. These 
three weeks were in the good old Catholic times an 
agreeable mingling of religious service, domestic 
gatherings, and public celebrations. The European 
world then believed that Christ was God, and that 
He came on earth, not as a God, but as a little child, 
in the way of human kind, to show men how beautiful 
human life can be, with God's grace, if men will 
follow God's ways, and not their own. 

Shakespeare in the very first scene of Hamlet makes 
Marcellus the officer say: 

Some say that ever 'gainst that season comes 
Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated, 
The bird of dawning singeth all night long: 

36 



\ 



The Christmas Time 



37 



And then, they say, no spirit dare stir abroad, 
The nights are wholesome, then no planets strike, 
No fairy takes nor witch hath power to charm, 
So hallow 'd and so gracious is the time. 

Christmas became the festival of the children, and 
so it has remained, even where the religious meaning 
has vanished. In this country the festival was hardly 
known, and but slightly recognized, until 1850. The 
Puritans had banished all festivals as smacking too 
much of Rome and paganism; but the coming of the 
Irish and the Germans, and their solemn religious 
and social observance of the Christmas time, revived 
it for all classes, and fixed it as a commercial, social, 
and legal festival in the life of the people. Your 
duty as a representative Catholic in your own circle 
is to preach it to all who know you, b} r word and 
by example. Go to communion on Christmas day, 
and on Epiphany, which stands for the visit of the 
Magi to Christ. Give liberally to the poor. Read 
up on the history of the three weeks, and retail it 
to your friends. At the very least, say daily the 
simple prayers herein appended. And in particular 
be on your guard against making the holy season 
purely pagan by marketing, junketing, idling and 
sinning, as the commercial world would have it. 
Live in quiet Bethlehem from December 24 to January 
13, and not on the highway. 

CHANTS AND PRAYERS 

A light shall shine upon us this day: for our Lord 
is born to us: and He shall be called Wonderful, 
God, the Prince of peace, the Father of the world to 
come: of whose kingdom there shall be no end. 

A Child is born for us, and a Son is given to us: 
whose government is upon His shoulder: and His 
name shall be called the Angel of great counsel. 

While all things were in quiet silence, and the night 



'38 



The Christmas Time 



was in the midst of her course, Thy Almighty Word, 
O Lord, came down from heaven, from Thy royal 
throne. 

Behold the Lord the Ruler is come: and a kingdom 
is in his hand, and power and dominion. 

Upon a high throne I saw a Man sitting, whom a 
multitude of Angels adore singing together: behold 
Him the name of whose empire is for ever and ever. 

PRAYERS 

O God, who hast made this most holy night to 
shine forth with the brightness of the true Light: 
grant, we beseech Thee, that we may enjoy His hap- 
piness in heaven, the mystery of whose light we have 
known upon earth. 

O Lord our God, grant us, we beseech Thee, that 
we who rejoice in celebrating by these Mysteries the 
Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, may deserve by 
a worthy conduct to attain unto fellowship with Him. 

O God, who by the leading of a star didst on this 
day (the Epiphany) manifest Thine Only-begotten 
Son to the Gentiles: mercifully grant that we, who 
know Thee now by faith, may be brought to the con- 
templation of Thy glorious majesty. 

O God, who hast appointed Thine Only-begotten 
Son to be the Saviour of mankind, and hast com- 
manded that His name should be called Jesus: mer- 
cifully grant that we may enjoy in heaven the blessed 
Vision of Him whose holy name we worship on earth. 
Through the same Our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth 
and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy 
Ghost, world without end. Amen. 



THE LENTEN SEASON 



INSTRUCTION 

THIS season begins with Ash- Wednesday, some 
time in February, and ends on Easter Sunday 
seven weeks later. The actual time of Lent is forty 
days, counting the four days of the first week, and 
the thirty-six days of the six weeks following. For 
Sunday is not treated as a Lenten day, being the 
Lord's special day, and therefore always to be regarded 
as a day of joy. There is no fast and no abstinence 
for the day of the Lord. In the Lenten season all 
devout Catholics follow, according to their ability 
and condition of life, the laws of fasting and absti- 
nence. The spirit of the season, which is one of rest, 
quiet, withdrawal from pleasure and excitement, of inti- 
mate relations with God, every true Catholic can follow. 

The Church observes most tenaciously this season 
for several reasons. First, in honor of the forty days' 
fast of Jesus in the desert; secondly and chiefly to 
remind her children with stern emphasis that they are 
not born solely for this world, that time and thought 
must be given to eternity, that they must take stock 
of their soul, take account of their present method of 
living, wean themselves from too close a devotion 
to pleasure and profit. 

You are not long associated with the world of to-day 
before you observe and feel at what a killing pace 
it travels. Business seems to have gone mad in its 
rush and hurry and greed for big profits, trampling 
to death the slow, the helpless, the weak; society 
wears itself out with meaningless functions and visits; 
the haunts of pleasure are overcrowded and over- 
worked; the people who seek fame in literature, 
learning, poetry, journalism, and acting, must scheme 
and work to the limit of endurance to win a prize, or 
to hold what they have won. Even the poor are 



39 



4o 



The Lenten Season 



sought for by the amusement world, and the motion- 
picture, the soda fountain, the candy and toy shops, 
seek laboroiusly for the spare time and the last nickel 
of the poor workers. Hence people really enjoy 
nothing by having too much. Hence the increase in 
diseases of the brain, stomach, heart and nerves, in 
our time, because men can stand the strain only a 
little while. 

Lent has therefore become a social necessity. When 
the Catholics of 1840 first made it known to Amer- 
ica, people laughed at them; but when physicians 
began to point out its merits to wealthy patients, 
and when Society took advantage of it to escape 
the conventional strain by closing house and running 
off to Europe, people did not laugh so much. Lent 
became popular. It would have remained so but for 
that class of Catholics which always truckles to the 
world, and becomes more foolish even, a class which 
under a lofty pretence of generosity gave up the ob- 
servance of Lent, and can now be found anywhere 
indulging in Lenten dissipations. 

Your business is to regard all these facts with a 
steady and acute eye, and to act accordingly. On 
Ash- Wednesday withdraw from the world. Go to 
church and listen to the words of the Church, as the 
priest sprinkles your head with ashes: Remember, 
man, thou art but dust, and unto dust thou shalt return. 
Slow down in your speed. Get quiet of mind, quiet 
of heart, quiet of will, as well as quiet of manner. 
Follow the Church throughout the season. Look back 
upon your life, and count the expense. Look ahead 
upon your future, and decide how much you are willing 
to pay. Let all men see by your speech, mood, action, 
that you believe. 

There are certain devotions practiced by the Church, 
which should engage your attention. The reciting 
of the Rosary is a beautiful daily devotion. If you 
have time to visit a Church, make the way of the cross 



The Lenten Season 



4i 



in honor of the Passion of Our Lord. Keep a good 
book close to your hand. Read the prayers in its 
golden pages. Get thoroughly rested mentally. Give 
the great soul within a chance to think, feel, speak 
and be heard in the noisy market-place. Let the 
great wave of religion rise about you till you are floating 
naked on its strengthening tide, stripped of the world's 
foolishness, and drinking in through every pore the 
strength of God. 

For daily use the following chants and prayers are 
appended. 

INVITATION TO LENT 
Thus saith the Lord: be converted to Me with all 
your heart, with fasting, and with weeping, and with 
mourning. And rend your hearts, and not your 
garments, and turn to the Lord your God: for He is 
gracious and merciful, patient and rich in mercy, 
and ready to repent of the evil. Who knoweth but 
He will turn, and forgive and leave a blessing behind 
Him, and sacrifice and libation to the Lord your God? 
Blow the trumpet in Sion: sanctify a fast: call a 
solemn assembly, gather together the people: sanctify 
the congregation: assemble the ancients: gather 
together the little ones, and them that suck at v the 
breasts: let the bridegroom go forth from his bed, 
and the bride out of her bedchamber. Between the 
porch and the altar the priests, the Lord's ministers, 
shall weep, and shall say: Spare, O Lord, spare Thy 
people: and give not Thy inheritance to reproach, 
that the heathens should rule over them. Why should 
they say among the nations: where is their God? 
The Lord hath been zealous for His land, and hath 
spared His people. And the Lord answered, and 
said to His people: Behold I will send you corn, 
and wine, and oil: and ye shall be filled with them: 
and I will no more make you a reproach among the 
nations, saith the Lord God Almighty. Joel it. 
Jesus said to His disciples: when ye fast, be not 



42 



The Lenten Season 



of a sad countenance, as the hypocrites. For they 
disfigure their faces, that to men they may appear 
to fast. Truly I say to you, they have got their 
reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy 
head, and wash thy face: that thou appear not to 
men to fast, but to thy Father, who is in secret: and 
thy Father, who seeth in secret, will repay thee. Lay 
not up for yourselves treasures on earth, where rust 
and moth consume, and where thieves break through 
and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in 
heaven: where neither rust nor moth doth consume, 
and where thieves do not break through and steal. 
For where thy treasure is, there is thy heart also. 
Matt. vi. 1 6-2 1. 

PRAYERS 

O God, who dost every year by this fast of forty 
days purify Thy Church, grant unto this Thy family 
that what things they strive to obtain at Thy hand 
by abstinence, they may turn to profit by good works. 

O Almighty and merciful God, we beseech Thee, 
that the Mysteries which we have received may 
purify us; and by the intercession of all Thy Saints, 
grant that this Thy sacrament may not be to us 
as a means of condemnation, but of pardon and sal- 
vation; may it be the washing away of sins, the 
strength of the weak, protection against all the dangers 
of the world, and the remission of all the sins of the 
faithful, living and dead. 

O Almighty and everlasting God, who hast caused 
our Saviour to take upon Him our flesh, and to suffer 
death upon the Cross, that all mankind should fol- 
low the example of His humility: mercifully grant 
that we may deserve both to keep in mind the les- 
sons of His patience, and also to be made partakers 
of His resurrection. Through the same Jesus Christ 
Our Lord, who with Thee and the Holy Ghost liveth 
and reigneth for ever and ever. Amen. 



HOLY WEEK 



IT is easy to see how far the Christian people have 
gone from the knowledge and love of Christ by 
watching their behaviour during Holy Week, the seven 
days devoted to commemorating the last sufferings, 
death and burial of our Lord. One does not mind 
the pagans, although they too might pause in honor 
of that most powerful product of the human race, 
the ineffaceable, ever-living, ever-acting, all-beau- 
tiful Christ. Around His Cross the whole world 
revolves at this moment, as He foretold, some deny- 
ing, some affirming, some in pity, others in scorn, 
many in admiration, millions in love and adoration. 
No matter what their belief, to the foot of this Cross 
they must come, each in due time, and must affirm 
or deny that Christ is the Son of God. 

It is the business and duty of the faithful Catholic 
to observe this week with respect and devotion. 
Some find it next to impossible to do so, because 
the world must have its pleasures, entertainment, 
and profit no matter who perishes. Every one can 
attend the church services each day, and follow 
respectfully the Passion of Our Lord. The regular 
Holy Week book will provide one with the entire 
ritual, and with instructions which will guide one 
through the splendid scenes and ceremonies. All 
that can be done here is to point out the significance 
of the seven days. 

Palm Sunday. Christ enters Jerusalem in tri- 
umph, which is signified by the blessing of the palms; 
the story of His Passion, according to St. Matthew's 
account, is read in the Mass. 



43 



44 



Holy Week 



Wednesday is called Spy- Wednesday, because at 
that time Judas made his preparations for betraying 
his Divine Master. The solemn offices begin in the 
afternoon or evening in the churches. 

Thursday. On this day Christ ate the last supper 
with His disciples, and established the Sacrament 
of the Eucharist. At the Mass on this morning, 
which is celebrated with splendor, all the bells are 
rung and the organ is played while the priest at the 
altar chants the Gloria in excelsis. At its close bells 
and organ are silent until the Mass on Holy Saturday. 

Friday. Known as good, because of the death 
of our Lord on that day. The Mass is in black; the 
way of the cross is usually made around three o'clock; 
the Church is in mourning; at three, the ninth hour 
of the Gospel, Christ died upon the cross. 

Saturday. Long and beautiful ceremonies take 
place in the churches: the Mass is sung with joy, 
and at the Gloria the bells and the organ resume 
their office. The Body of Christ was in the tomb 
at this time, and His Soul in Limbo: the Church is 
joyful because the work of her Master was completed 
on Good Friday, and the glory of His Resurrection, 
like a beautiful dawn, began to lift the mists of a 
long night. 



EASTER AND THE PASCHAL TIME 



ON the Sunday called Easter, the third day after 
His death, Christ rose from the tomb, and 
began His reign as the immortal King of the human 
race. He had suffered death, according to the penalty 
laid upon mankind, but also He had demonstrated 
that death is not annihilation. The soul of man is 
immortal, and the body of man will share in that 
immortality after the world's course is run. This 
is the meaning of the Easter festival. From this 
day to the end of the Easter period, which is usually 
called the Paschal time, and extends for eight weeks 
into the year, the Church in all her public offices 
reminds her children of all the things signified by the 
Resurrection of Christ. 

Christ remained on the earth forty days after 
His Resurrection, appeared on different occasions to 
His disciples, permitted them to feel of His body 
that they might recognize the fact of His Resurrection, 
taught them the meaning of His death, His Resur- 
rection, and His present return to His Heavenly Father, 
ordered them to preach the message of His coming 
to the whole world, gave them the power to forgive 
sins, to offer up the Mass, to regenerate and revivify 
the sick world, and empowered them to rule and con- 
tinue that Church which He had founded. Then 
warning them to prepare for the speedy coming of 
the Holy Ghost, and blessing them, He left the earth 
in full view of them, as a monarch departs to His 
own special kingdom, and disappeared in the clouds 
of heaven. 

All these events the Church celebrates in the Paschal 
time. The day of Christ's departure from the earth 



45 



46 Easter and the Paschal Time 



is a holyday of obligation, known as Ascension Day, 
requiring all Catholics to attend Mass, if at all pos- 
sible. Ten days later comes Pentecost, the day upon 
which the Holy Ghost descended upon the Apostles 
and filled them with the courage and strength which 
illuminates the world till this day, and will do so 
till the end of time. Pentecost Sunday is the birth- 
day of the Catholic Church. Under the inspiration 
of the Holy Spirit twelve timid men, humble, un- 
learned, abashed before the world, leaped into the 
arena of public life, preached Christ and His teachings 
to all men, and conquered the scoffing, unbelieving, 
sensual and cruel world. 

It is your business as a faithful Catholic to recog- 
nize the meaning, beauty, and power of the Paschal 
Time, and to spread the knowledge of its days and 
ceremonies among men. The Holy Ghost must 
direct and inform your life, if you are to be worth 
while here and hereafter. He will change you, as 
He changed the Apostles, from nothingness into 
worth, if you submit your soul to His guidance. 

With Trinity Sunday, exactly eight weeks after 
Easter Sunday, the Paschal season comes to an end. 
It is of obligation that every Christian should go to 
confession and communion at least once in the period 
extending from the fourth Sunday in Lent to Trinity 
Sunday. Catholics usually select the Easter festival 
for that purpose, 



THE MINOR PERIODS 



FROM Pentecost on the Church marks passing 
time by special feasts and what may be called 
minor periods. The month of May is devoted to 
the Blessed Virgin, and in the churches and homes 
the altars of Mary are dressed with flowers and illu- 
minated with candles. The Rosary is said with solem- 
nity, also the Litany of Loretto, and sermons are 
preached upon her glorious privileges and prerogatives 
as the Mother of God and the reigning Queen of Heaven. 

The month of June is devoted to the Sacred Heart 
of Jesus in a similar fashion. The heart is the recog- 
nized symbol of love among men, it is the measure 
of the affections; and no heart ever loved man more, 
or suffered more for his sake than the heart of Jesus, 
which, even after death had stilled its passionate 
beating, was laid open by the lance of the soldier. 

The month of July is devoted in the same fashion 
to the Blood of Our Lord, which was shed for us 
on the cross, and which still continues to be in the 
Mass the refreshment of the faithful. 

In the month of August occurs the Feast of the 
Assumption, the fifteenth day, when the Church 
commemorates the holy tradition that Our Lady was 
assumed into heaven, body and soul, three days 
after her death, so that her sinless body escaped the 
corruption of the grave, like the Body of her Divine 
Son. 

In the month of September occur the feast of Our 
Lady's nativity, and the feast of St. Michael Arch- 
angel, the former on the 8th, the latter on the 29th. 
The latter feast recognizes the existence and office 
and patronage of the angelic order, the pure spirits 



47 



4 8 



The Minor Periods 



that stand before God and serve Him according to 
His will. St. Michael is thought to be charged with 
the care of the souls in Purgatory, and is so addressed 
by the Church in her antiphons. 

The month of October is dedicated to the Guardian 
Angels, the blessed spirits whose chief duty is to watch 
over the souls of men. According to the spirit of 
the Church's teaching, each human soul upon its 
creation is given in charge to an angel, not merely 
for its. career upon earth, but even for eternity. Thus 
the human creature is never alone. Like the heir 
to a throne it is affectionately watched, attended, 
illumined, instructed and sustained, to prepare it 
for its everlasting destiny. What honor and con- 
descension! How such a guardianship displays the 
mind of God and the dignity of man! 

Pope Leo XIII made October the month of the 
Rosary, because the Blessed Virgin is the Queen of 
the Angels. 

November enjoys two peculiar dedications, com- 
memorated in the feast of the first day, the Feast 
of All Saints, and of the second day, the Remembrance 
of all Souls. The former honors every human soul 
that has passed into heaven. In her calendar of 
the year the Church names the greatest souls that 
served God, like Peter and Paul and Teresa; on this 
day she honors the millions who served Christ since 
time began, the humble souls who left no name be 
hind them, but whose kind hearts and devoted labors 
had a share in building up the Kingdom of Christ. 

The sacred writers describe the Church in three 
divisions: The Church Militant, that is, on earth 
fighting her way through the battle of Time; the 
Church Suffering, which means the souls in Pur- 
gatory, who have passed the river of death, but have 
not yet attained to heaven; and the Church Tri- 
umphant, that is, all who have reached the heavenly 
goal and rejoice in the presence of God. The suffering 



\ 



The Minor Periods 



49 



souls in Purgatory, like the poor and sick on earth, 
are the special care of the Church; and in the month 
of November she pays them special honor, and solicits 
from us all our prayers and charities in their behalf. 
We have the power to help and even to release them, 
by acts of charity in their name, by indulgenced prayers, 
and through the Mass. 

With the month of November and this public 
tribute to all the saints and the suffering souls, the 
Church brings her year to an end. What a noble 
panorama is this observance of Time, so lightly con- 
sidered by men! How it lifts up the soul from the 
dust of the road to the vision of eternity! How it 
inspires the faithful Catholic to scorn the world, its 
profit and loss, its stupid pleasure, its waste of the 
priceless moment in wretched dissipation. See to 
it that you walk in the pathway made smooth and 
firm by the travel of the Saints. Keep your eyes on 
the splendid scenes of past glory, present action, and 
future bliss. The Church acts upon that principle: 
Time is the coin with which man buys eternity. 



THE SEVEN FOUNTAINS 



TT/'ITHO UT Me, said Christ to His disciples, 
r r you can do nothing. I am the vine and you 
are the branches. The sap which runs from the vine 
to the branches is the grace of Christ. Of course it 
takes many forms, and comes to us through different 
channels; but in the Church its flowing is recognized 
in seven sources, which, like so many sparkling foun- 
tains, send out infinite and ceaseless currents to re- 
fresh the world. These fountains of grace are known 
as the Seven Sacraments. Every Catholic should 
know enough about them to use them frequently 
and well. 

BAPTISM 

Of this fountain Christ said, Unless a man be born 
again of water and the Holy Ghost he shall not enter 
into the kingdom of heaven. It is the first Sacrament 
administered to the faithful, and no other Sacrament 
can be received until after Baptism. Parents should 
be careful therefore to see that the children receive 
the Sacrament as soon as possible after birth. It 
can be received but once, and leaves an indelible 
mark upon the soul, marking it as Christian, and 
entitling it to the grace of Christ. Occasionally lay 
Catholics are called upon to administer it in a hurry 
to dying children, or dying adults, when a priest cannot 
be found. Therefore every Catholic should be pre- 
pared to administer the Sacrament and to know 
the method. Take water and pour it over the fore- 
head of the person, so that it is sure to flow on the 



50 



The Seven Fountains 



bare skin, and at the same time say aloud and very 
distinctly these words: I baptize thee in the name of 
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 

CONFIRMATION 

This Sacrament is usually administered to children 
about the age of ten, but it may be administered at 
any time, according to the circumstances. It is 
specially designed to strengthen the faithful against 
the attacks of the world upon their faith. The Holy 
Spirit abides and works in them through this Sac- 
rament, and gives them the temper and the courage 
to fight the world with success. It is the special 
Sacrament of the soldier fighting in the line. Many 
Catholics neglect it. If you are of this class, read up 
the catechism on this Sacrament, then visit the nearest 
priest, and have him direct you to the next con- 
venient place where a bishop is to administer the 
Sacrament. Everyone will smooth the way for you. 
Be especially careful to see that the children in your 
care receive this Sacrament. 

PENANCE 

Enough has been said about this Sacrament on 
another page. You have only to be reminded that 
while on the road there should be no trouble in going 
to confession regularly, if you are at pains to do so. 
Priests will hear your confession at any time. Approach 
them without misgiving — you have a right to their 
services ; act with candor, and let them have an insight 
into your mind and heart. 

EUCHARIST 

Enough has been said also about this Sacrament* 
It may be added that the traveller should find no serious 
difficulty in going to communion as often as he feels 



52 



The Seven Fountains 



like it. It should be the delight of men to cultivate 
this personal intimacy with the Leader and Master, 
and so acquire the distinction of soul which lifts a 
man out of the rut, and his profession into something 
better than mere profit-making. 

HOLY ORDERS 

This is the Sacrament which converts a layman 
into a priest, and confirms him forever in that high 
state. There is a temptation among ill-informed 
Catholics to regard the priest somewhat as the public 
regards the ministers of the sects. The difference, 
however, is too marked to permit of such confusion. 
The minister is simply an agent of the people or sect 
who employ him; they may dismiss him at pleasure, 
and his sect may dismiss him from the ministry alto- 
gether, so that he must take up another business. 
The priest, on the other hand, is sent from God; 
the great Church provides his credentials; he can 
never leave the priesthood, never be absolved from 
his obligation and state; he is bound to the service 
of souls for life, and he must enter eternity, success 
or failure, as a priest. You should never be afraid 
to approach him anywhere, and to act upon the pre- 
sumption that he will treat you not only with cour- 
tesy, but with the kindness of a father and the ten- 
derness of a priest. 

MATRIMONY 

This Sacrament prepares the man and woman for 
their married life, sustains them in mutual affection, 
carries them through domestic trials, aids them in 
the bringing up of the children, and throws about 
the married state that dignity, strength, power and 
beauty, which God intended, which the world is ever 
striving to destroy, and which man himself recklessly 



The Seven Fountains 53 



exposes to destruction. Catholics should be careful 
to avoid the method of marriage practiced by the 
pagans, running hastily and secretly to a magistrate, 
or a minister, without decency or decorum. The 
Church has fixed the method, beginning with- the 
decent courtship, the proposal, the date of the mar- 
riage, the visit to the priest to make the proper arrange- 
ments, the calling of the banns, the preparatory con- 
fession and communion, the ceremony and the nuptial 
mass, in the presence of friends and relatives. To 
get married in the sneakish fashion is a sin. More- 
over, it is no longer a valid marriage in this country, 
and the parties live in concubinage; and to begin 
wedded life in such a fashion will hardly bring God's 
blessing on a household. The first duty on dis- 
covering this unhappy condition is to seek the nearest 
priest, and to make arrangements for a true marriage. 
The duty of all is to discourage such marriages, and to 
instruct the ignorant on the proper method. 



EXTREME UNCTION 

This is the Sacrament for the sick and the dying- 
Too many Catholics know next to nothing about it* 
They suppose that its administration means that 
the recipient is sure to die. Many refuse it on that 
account. It is intended to carry a sick man through 
his sickness with resignation and courage, whether he 
lives or dies. It has a curative effect upon the sick 
very often. Non-Catholic physicians know this so 
well, that they are always solicitous in a heavy sickness 
to sugges,t the attendance of the priest. A wise 
Catholic therefore should in his sickness secure the 
Sacrament of Extreme Unction at once, so as to 
hasten his own recovery, if it is to be. Those who 
are about to die should receive it as soon as possible, 
because it confers upon them repose of mind, strength 
of spirit, and resignation to the will of God. Cath- 



54 The Seven Fountains 



olics should be particularly anxious about their sick 
friends, and make sure of their reception of this Sac- 
rament. After providing for the patient in the hos- 
pital, the pastor of the place should be informed of 
his condition, the head of the hospital should also be 
informed, and nothing else neglected to make certain 
the necessary spiritual care. The custom of making 
light of a disease and lulling a sick person into a false 
security should not be permitted among Catholics. 
The grace of Christ is more helpful to the sick than 
a false hope of getting well. 



THE DUTIES OF YOUR STATE 



TO GOD 

EVERY Catholic has special duties, arising from 
his condition, which take precedence over all 
others. They are commonly called the duties of his 
state. The first duty of a Christian is towards God, 
the second towards himself, and the third towards 
his neighbor. The usual order is to place self first. 
Our neighbor takes unusual pains to get second place, 
and occasionally gets the first. God is often lost 
sight of completely, and holds no place until mis- 
fortune or distress or the failure of self and neighbor 
to be of use reminds us of His existence. In the 
well-ordered life of the virtuous and sensible Catholic, 
God holds the first place. Seek first the kingdom of 
God and his justice, is the keynote of this book. 

Place God first in your thoughts. Offer up the 
actions of each day in His honor. The most expres- 
sive form of God's will in this world, and the easiest 
to recognize, is the great Church which His Son 
founded. As an institution it is the wonder of man- 
kind, because it has withstood the shock of time, 
has seen all other institutions crumble, and is still 
active, beautiful, beneficent, and powerful among 
men. Join in its activities. Help along its good 
works. If you follow its daily march, you will be 
as one walking on a high plateau, in clear air, far above 
the dust and stench and fever of the world's market- 
place. You will have heaven always in view, and 
yet you will never lose sight of the earth. 

With these thoughts of devotion and loyalty stimu- 
lating ^ your heart and mind, say occasionally the 
following 

55 »'> 



The Duties of Your State 



PRAYER 

O Lord God, King of heaven and earth, vouchsafe 
this day to direct and to sanctify, to rule and govern, 
my soul and body, my senses, words and actions, in 
Thy law, and in the works of Thy commandments; 
that both now and forever I may deserve to be saved 
and delivered through Thy protection, 0 Saviour 
of the world, who livest and reignest world without 
end. Amen. 

TO YOURSELF 

Selfish people never forget themselves, but their 
devotion to self springs from the desire for pleasure, 
not from the sense of duty. Hence their selfishness 
is more dangerous to their own welfare than would 
be the schemes of an enemy. Eating and drinking 
for pleasure, gambling and carousing and idling and 
dissipating for pleasure, their present time is dizzy 
with irregularity, and their future is threatened with 
disease and death. It is your duty therefore to look 
after yourself wisely. Your best asset is health. 
Without that you are nothing. Therefore look after 
that before all other material things. Do not be 
persuaded that the pleasures of the world can be 
enjoyed without injuring that splendid and most 
necessary capital. 

A sound regard for health of body will soon lead 
you to a proper scorn for the guzzling of meat and 
drink, the late hours, gambling, idle chatter, of the 
world. Next to your health cultivate a high regard 
for economy. The young smile at it, but their smiles 
are wanton before the tears of a starved old age. 
Economy is the guardian of the future, it is the guar- 
antee of ease and honor in old age, and it is the present 
defence against your own foolishness, the trickery 
of the market, the borrowing of false friends, and the 
extravagance of intimates. 



The Duties of Your State 



57 



Cultivate a sense of honor. It is unfortunately 
rare among men, and seems to be getting rarer even 
among thieves. To keep your word in everything, 
to pay your debts promptly, to treat all men with 
justice and courtesy, not only because of what they 
are, but because of what you are, these things spring 
from the sense of honor. The mere statement warns 
us how little honor is to be found in the market-place. 
Yet it is as necessary to the soul as cleanliness to the 
body. 

Finally guard your faith as the most precious jewel 
in your possession. Of all that you own this gem 
only belongs to you in death. Your other goods, 
even your cherished body, must be left to the world; 
your faith accompanies you through sickness, and 
dying, and death, to the seat of judgment. Be not, 
therefore, like that base Indian of whom Othello 
spoke in his despair, who 

Threw a pearl away 
Richer than all his tribe. 

Let neither your own folly, nor the trickery of the 
world, nor foolish ambition, steal from you that most 
precious jewel, without which you will be poor indeed. 
In this mood say occasionally the following 

PRAYER 

O Lord God, we humbly and fervently ask of Thee 
the gift of perpetual health of mind and body; and 
also, through the glorious intercession of the Blessed 
Mary ever Virgin, that we may be freed from present 
sadness, and may hereafter possess eternal gladness. 
Through Christ Our Lord. Amen. 



The Duties of Your State 



TO YOUR NEIGHBORS 

Your duty to your fellows cannot be confined to 
helping them in moments of distress. But charity 
demands that we do not wait for our neighbors to 
fall into poverty and wretchedness before we show 
them affection. The first duty of every good Catholic 
to his neighbor is to set him a fine example. In 
speech, in manners, in observance of the Christian 
law, in performing religious and other duties, example 
is the first great duty. Usually it is the last thought of. 

What force more than any other destroys the 
young? Bad example. They leave home decent 
and religious after a long training under parent, 
school, and priest. In a year they are notorious 
sinners. Why so sudden and so monstrous a change? 
The bad example of one set, the failure of the decent 
to set a good example. Besides example there are 
times when instruction is your duty. The ignorance 
of many Catholics about their religion is as extensive 
as their readiness to argue about it. How often are 
you asked a question by a sincere non- Catholic, and 
find yourself unable to answer it. How often you 
could have set disputants right and were too lazy 
or too ill-informed to do so. 

Good example, instruction at the right moment, 
reproof and correction, are just as much your duty 
as to help the poor. Special care of the sick and 
the dying is also an imperative and often neglected 
duty. It is not enough that you pay for the care of 
the sick; if you are intimates you must do something 
for the spiritual condition.^ Either send for the 
priest, or have the hospital authorities attend to it, 
or look after the matter from beginning to end. The 
distress of the sick is sometimes very keen, but they 
are too weak or too generous to speak of it. 

When death has seized them be more solicitous 
about prayers for their souls than flowers and grandeur 



The Duties of Your State 



59 



for the funeral. Flowers are an easy and expensive 
tribute, but prayers mean long remembrance and 
unselfish assistance. 

In these sentiments say occasionally the following 

PRAYER 

O Most loving Jesus, Pattern of charity, who makest 
all the commandments of the law to consist in love 
towards God and towards man, grant to us so to love 
Thee with all our heart, with all our mind, and with 
all our soul, and our neighbor for Thy sake, that 
the grace of charity and brotherly love may dwell 
in us, and all envy, harshness, and ill-will may die 
in us; and fill our hearts with feelings of love, kind- 
ness, and compassion, so that by constantly rejoicing 
in the happiness and success of others, by sympa- 
thizing with them in their sorrows, and putting away 
all harsh judgments and envious thoughts, we may 
follow Thee, who art Thyself the true and perfect 
love. Amen. 

TO YOUR PROFESSION 

It is strange in what scorn, or horror, or contempt, 
or dread, many pious people hold the profession of 
the actor. From the earliest times this has been 
the case, whether a people were Christian or pagan 
or nothing. There is no need to try to account for 
it, because it is disappearing; but there is a real 
need for the actor to acknowledge its existence, to 
nullify its influence, and finally destroy it. 

The chief reason for this distrust and scorn of the 
profession is the ease with which unscrupulous man- 
agers, dramatists and notable actors, in all ages and 
among all peoples, prostitute their art and profession 
to the unclean. Why the public should be so sen- 
sitive about stage immorality, while permitting the 



6o 



The Duties of Your State 



press to report in detail a grosser immorality daily, 
is not explicable. However, the duty of the actor 
is to earn respect for his profession by his own be- 
havior towards it; which means that he must fight 
against the unclean section of the stage, as a city 
does against its slums, until it has been wiped out. 

Moreover, he must learn to know and seek to up- 
hold those ideals which keep art from the degradation 
of the carnal and the brutal. Music and painting - 
and poetry and sculpture can serve the devil, and 
have served him, and are serving him now; but when 
true to their ideals they serve God and man nobly. 
It is the same with the drama, and with the institution 
which exploits the drama, the stage. It must be 
made to serve God and man by virtue. You must 
help to keep it to that ideal service. 

You will never do it by playing in vile plays, or 
with vile managers and companies. You must de- 
fend your profession by act and by argument. You 
must sanctify it by your own sanctified life. Offer 
your work daily to God. Pray for the purification 
of the stage. Speak daily in its behalf. Protest 
daily against its degradation. Occasionally say this 

PRAYER 

O God, whose mercies are without number, and 
the treasure of whose goodness is infinite: I return 
thanks to Thee for the gifts Thou has bestowed 
on me, and I beseech Thy clemency that as Thou 
dost grant the petitions of them that ask Thee, so 
never forsaking them, Thou wilt prepare them for 
the rewards to come. 

And I commend to Thee the profession by which 
I earn my bread, that led by the light of Thy Spirit 
it may rise to the service of Thee, and continue in it, 
and avoid those terrible depths of depravity dug for 
it by a lustful world. May the beauty which Thou 



The Duties of Your State 



61 



hast conferred on it shine with the added beauty of 
Thy grace and blessing, and lead men to the love and 
knowledge and service of Thee always. Amen. 

CALL ON THE PRIEST 

The first thing a soldier would do in a garrison 
would be to report at headquarters; therefore, the 
Catholic actor should not fail to visit the local church 
and adore the Blessed Sacrament. It is not a matter 
of obligation, of course. It is just carrying out a 
good old Catholic custom. It keeps the actor in 
touch with his religion. It acts against that ten- 
dency to disorder which too much travel and change 
of scene bring into a man's mind. 

If in addition to the church visit, the actor finds 
it convenient and unobtrusive to call upon the resi- 
dent pastor, it should be done. With regard to the 
drama the clergy may be divided into two classes: 
those who think it sinful, or useless, or dangerous, 
and those who favor it as a social force or a pleasant 
art. The former look fupon actors as infidels and 
worse, the latter know little about them. It is worth 
while, therefore, to cultivate in a courteous way both 
classes; that the one may see their mistake and the 
other may get the support of knowledge. 

Actors for the most part have an odd shyness with 
regard to the priest; yet this personage, where he 
knows anything about the profession at all, has a 
great respect for the ability which good acting re- 
quires, and a growing interest in its exponents. By 
all means visit the priest wherever you can while on 
the road. 

And while pursuing those interminable journeys, 
keep in mind that other road which the soul should 
always be travelling, namely the road to a holy ending. 
Here is the great Newman's description of that road, 
which he calls 



62 



The Duties of Your State 



A SHORT ROAD TO PERFECTION 

"It is the saying of holy men that, if we wish to 
be perfect, we have nothing more to do than perform 
the ordinary ditues of the day well. A short road 
to perfection, — short not because easy, but because 
pertinent and intelligible. As soon as a person really 
desires and sets about seeking it himself, he is dis- 
satisfied with anything but what is tangible and clear, 
and constitutes some sort of direction toward the 
practice of it. 

"We must bear in mind what is meant by perfection. 
It does not mean any extraordinary service, anything 
out of the way or especially heroic — not all have 
the opportunity of heroic acts, of sufferings, — but it 
means what the word perfection ordinarily means. 
By perfection we mean that which has no flaw in it, 
that which is complete, that which is consistent, 
that which is sound, — we mean the opposite to im- 
perfection. He then is perfect who does the work of 
the day perfectly, and we need not go beyond this to 
seek for perfection. 

"If you ask me what you are to do in order to be 
perfect, I say, first: do not lie in bed beyond the 
due time of arising; give your first thoughts to God; 
make a good visit to the Blessed Sacrament; say the 
Angelus devoutly; eat and drink to God's glory; 
say the Rosary well; be recollected: keep out of bad 
thoughts; make your evening meditation well; ex- 
amine your conscience daily." 



A PRAYER TO THE GUARDIAN ANGEL 



O ANGEL OF GOD, to whose tender care I have 
been committed by the wisdom of God; who 
hast watched over me in the years when I knew thee 
not; who hast prayed for me, guided me, restrained 
me, in my ignorance, and inspired me and consoled 
me, when I thought no one was near to aid; whose 
duty it is to accompany me through this life on earth, 
and afterwards to be my guide and companion in 
the heavenly life; make me through thy loving inter- 
cession ever conscious of thy friendship, ever worthy 
of it, ever attentive to it; obtain for me the grace 
of a sinless life, a happy death, a merciful judgment; 
so that I may greet thee as friend greets friend in 
the light of the vision of God, in the glory of the 
everlasting day. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord. 
Amen. 



THE END 



63 



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